Global Defence Technology: Issue 52

In this issue: The future or arms control in Europe, times of trouble for Germany’s defence industry, the US Army’s ammunition recycling project, new information management tools for an increasingly connected battlefield, innovations in port security technology and more.

Russia’s withdrawal from the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe treaty is considered a serious blow to the system of security-building that has been established since 1990. But what does it mean for the remaining parties to the treaty, who continue to be bound by its constraints while Russia faces no legal obstacle to increasing the size of its armed forces? We investigate the potential implications and ask whether the parties involved will be able to keep up a dialogue.

We also take a look inside Germany’s defence industry as it struggles with project overruns and military sales restrictions, find out how the US Army is recycling unused ammunition in a bid to become more eco-friendly and review a new information management tool that helps command and control operators keep on top of the growing flood of battlefield data. Moreover, we explore innovations in port security technology and ask what role littoral geoscience plays in the US Navy’s efforts to protect the country’s coastlines.

In this issue

A Greener Future for Europe?Through a wide portfolio of projects, European countries are trying to expand the use of renewable energy in their armed forces. The European Defence Agency is at the forefront of this initiative, writes Tom Bennington, programme manager for energy and environment Read the article.

Keep on TalkingRussia’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe may well put an end to a pact that has more or less remained intact since the Cold War. Dr Gareth Evans asks what it could mean for the future of arms control in Europe.Read the article.

Germany: Losing Ground?Military sales restrictions are adding pressure on German arms manufacturers, who are already struggling with overruns on domestic and foreign orders. Simon Williams investigates what this means for the country’s weapons development projects and the future position of the German defence industry.Read the article.

Reuse and RecycleIn today’s budget conscious, environmentally aware military, the motto ‘reuse, reclaim and recycle’ also applies to ammunition. Dr Gareth Evans finds out how high-explosive artillery shells that have passed their use-by date are being turned into training projectiles.Read the article.

Digitising the BattlefieldIn today’s increasingly digitised battlefield users of command and control systems are flooded with an ever growing amount of data. But how can all this data be processed into intelligence that informs, rather than overwhelms? Claire Apthorp takes a look at new tools for military information managementRead the article.

New Lines of DefencePorts occupy an important position as the first line of defence against what could become terrorism’s next front. Dr Gareth Evans reports on innovations in port security above and below the waterline.Read the article.

Eyes on the CoastlineThe littoral zone remains a challenging setting for defensive and offensive naval operations. Dr Gareth Evans explores the role of littoral geoscience in the US Navy’s efforts to protect coastlines.Read the article.

Next issue preview

The newly elected UK Government didn’t waste any time, announcing a 1.5% defence budget cut for 2015 just weeks after the election. We investigate where the cuts are likely to bit and whether equipment programmes will bear the brunt, and find out what else we can expect from the new government’s defence strategy over the coming years.

We also take a look at the industry teams competing for Australia’s Land 400 programme and the technologies they are putting forward, check in on the progress of Israel’s David’s Sling missile defence system and ask why it’s not all plain sailing for the US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford carrier project. Moreover, we find out how the US Navy is tackling today’s littoral threats with a new ‘trinity’ of complementary systems – the Littoral Combat Ship, the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and the MQ-8 Fire Scout UAS.

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